Cannabis Storage Best Practices for Long-Lasting Freshness

If you’ve ever had cannabis flower arrive a little dry, you know how much moisture matters. At Lucky Elk, we do everything we can to ship flower at peak freshness, but long-term storage requires a bit of care from you. Proper storage not only prevents dryness but also preserves the terpenes, cannabinoids, and quality of your flower.

In this blog, we’ll show you how to store cannabis flower the right way, from maintaining ideal moisture levels to avoiding common storage mistakes. And if you’re dealing with dry flower, check out our guide on rehydrating cannabis for quick and easy solutions!

The Basics of Cannabis Storage

  1. Temperature
    Store your cannabis at a stable temperature between 60–70°F. Avoid excessive heat, which can dry out flower and degrade cannabinoids, and keep it away from freezing temperatures, which make trichomes brittle.

  2. Humidity
    The ideal relative humidity for cannabis is 55–62%. This range prevents your flower from drying out while avoiding mold growth. Use humidity control packs for easy and consistent maintenance.

  3. Light
    Keep your flower in a dark place, as UV light breaks down cannabinoids and terpenes over time. Opaque or UV-resistant containers are ideal.

  4. Airflow
    While cannabis needs airtight storage to maintain moisture, it’s also important to "burp" fresh flower jars. More on that below!


How to Check Your Flower for Proper Moisture

  • Touch Test: Fresh cannabis should feel slightly sticky and pliable, not brittle or overly soft. If it crumbles when squeezed, it’s too dry. If it clumps together or feels wet, it’s too moist.
  • Visual Inspection: Look for vibrant green, purple, or orange hues. Overly dry flower may appear dull, while wet flower may show signs of mold, like white fuzz or discoloration.
  • Hygrometer: For precision, invest in a small hygrometer to measure the humidity inside your storage jar. Aim for 55–62% for optimal results.

The Importance of Burping Fresh Flower

If your flower is very fresh or wasn’t fully cured before storage, “burping” your storage jar is essential. Burping involves opening the jar for a few minutes daily to allow moisture and planty terpenes to escape. This process:

  • Helps eliminate grassy or chlorophyll-heavy aromas.
  • Evens out moisture levels throughout the buds.
  • Prevents excess humidity from causing mold or mildew.

Once your flower stabilizes at the proper humidity, you can reduce burping to once a week or stop altogether.


Troubleshooting Guide: What to Do If Your Flower Isn’t Perfect

  1. If Your Flower Is Too Dry:

    • Add a humidity pack to your jar for 24–48 hours.
    • Try adding a small slice of orange peel, apple, or lettuce (remove after a few hours).
    • Read our Blog--Best Practices for Rehydrating Cannabis Flower at Home--for more tips!
  2. If Your Flower Is Too Wet:

    • Remove the buds from the jar and spread them on parchment paper in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area for 12–24 hours.
    • Burp the jar more frequently (up to twice daily) until the humidity stabilizes.
    • Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels and ensure they stay below 62%.
  3. If Your Flower Is Too Fresh:

    • Burp your jar once daily for the first week, then taper to every few days until the chlorophyll smell dissipates.
    • Avoid smoking overly fresh flower; it may burn unevenly or taste harsh.

Best Storage Containers for Cannabis

  • Glass Jars with Airtight Lids: The gold standard for cannabis storage. They preserve moisture and terpenes without static electricity that can strip trichomes.

PRO TIP: Mason jars make great storage containers for cannabis. They're inexpensive, sold everywhere, and available in many sizes.

  • Humidity Control Packs: These packs maintain the ideal relative humidity and are an easy solution for long-term freshness.
  • Avoid Plastic Bags: They cause static and don’t seal well, leading to trichome loss and dry buds.

Great cannabis deserves great care, and proper storage is the key to maintaining freshness. By following these tips, you can enjoy your flower’s full flavor and potency for weeks—or even months—after purchase.

And if your flower does happen to dry out, don’t panic. Head over to our guide on rehydrating cannabis for simple, effective methods to bring your buds back to life.

Whether it’s storage tips or strain recommendations, Lucky Elk is here to make sure your cannabis experience is always a great one. Thanks for being part of the canna-fam!

Back to blog


What Our Customers Are Saying

I can’t tell you how much these tinctures have helped me! I’d recommend it for anyone dealing with chronic pain.
CLAIRE K.
Hemp of the highest quality. I have been buying for years and somehow it keeps getting better.
JALEN S.
Gets me through the day, helps me focus and keep my anxiety down. Thanks Lucky Elk!
TOM G.
Have you seen the pre-rolls? It’s so unique and stylish, has everything you need in the pack - a dream come true.
JANET D.